DNV GL launches two new JIPs with potential to save the industry millions in costs
DNV GL is launching two joint industry projects (JIPs) to investigate affordable composite components for the subsea sector and qualify technology for more efficient linepipe production processes. It is estimated that the JIPs could deliver a combined saving of £6.75 million, the company said in its press release.
The DNV GL Affordable Composites for the oil and gas industry JIP aims to reduce the cost of qualifying composite components for subsea use by replacing large scale tests with ‘certification by simulation’. Statoil, Petrobras, Petronas, Nexans, Airborne and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, are participating in the project. The project is partly funded by the Research Council of Norway.
The project, which could potentially deliver a 40 to 50% cost saving for certification and qualification of subsea composite components, will seek to validate new advanced material models by experimentation, with the main focus on predicting chemical ageing.
DNV GL will also develop processes to accept mathematical material models in the certification process. This will be documented in a revised edition of the DNV GL offshore standard for composite components (DNV-OS-C501).
The driver for the New Material Solutions for Flowlines JIP is to explore cost savings by use of HFW/SAW (high frequency welded/submerged arc welded) pipes. Within the envelope of production parameters, these may be a very attractive alternative to the traditional seamless pipes, due to their lower cost and shorter delivery time.
The JIP has drawn the interest from pipe manufacturers, installation contractors and operators such as: Corinth PipeWorks, EMAS, JFE-Steel, Sumitomo, Tata steel, Tenaris/Tamsa and Woodside. The JIP is still open to additional partners.